Hot day but good day!!
Greetings from the Holy Land
I am hearing it continues to be warmer than normal back home. It is much the same here with the locals saying temps are 10-12 degrees warmer than normal. Today it was right at 99-100 and we had a full day of touring that started at 6:30 AM and included visits to the biblical sites of Jaffa, Caesarea, Megiddo, Haifa and we ended here in Nazareth.
Jaffa and Caesarea are two of the oldest living establishments in the world with civilizations as far back as 4,000 years ago!! Wow!
King Herod was one who had a vision to really build up the port area of Caesarea into a remarkable harbor area. Some of what he had built still stands today with the most remarkable piece being the amphitheater which is over 2000 years old and still being used today. The tour guide indicated that it is one of the most sought after venues in the world by musicians/musical groups at which to play. You must schedule out 5-7 years to get on the calendar. Our guide has seen Manhattan Transfer and Dire Straits in this amphitheater. There is a picture of the amphitheater at the end of this blog.
We visited a Carmelite monastery at the top of Mount Carmel. It was here that the prophet Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal.
Megiddo was one of the most important cities in Biblical times as it sat in the middle of the traveled path that led to Golan Heights/Lebanon to the north and Egypt to the south. Thus, it was always a site that was constantly under siege through the years as the rulers knew of its geographical importance. As noted in yesterday's blog this is also the site that John mentions in the book of Revelations when speaking of the battle of Armageddon.
We then traveled about 20 minutes to Nazareth where we spend the next two days. Tomorrow we will attend mass at the Church of the Annunciation, where the Archangel Gabriel told Mary she would conceive and give birth to Jesus. Following mass we will head to the Cana of Galilee to the site of Christ's first miracle, the changing of water to wine. We will finish our day with visits to Gideon and Bet She'an, which is one of the world's best preserved Roman cities.
With tomorrow being Father's Day in the states our intention tomorrow will be for all of our fathers, stepfathers, godfathers and grandfathers! Happy Fathers to all who will celebrating one or more of those roles tomorrow.
God bless and enjoy your Sunday mass!
I am hearing it continues to be warmer than normal back home. It is much the same here with the locals saying temps are 10-12 degrees warmer than normal. Today it was right at 99-100 and we had a full day of touring that started at 6:30 AM and included visits to the biblical sites of Jaffa, Caesarea, Megiddo, Haifa and we ended here in Nazareth.
Jaffa and Caesarea are two of the oldest living establishments in the world with civilizations as far back as 4,000 years ago!! Wow!
King Herod was one who had a vision to really build up the port area of Caesarea into a remarkable harbor area. Some of what he had built still stands today with the most remarkable piece being the amphitheater which is over 2000 years old and still being used today. The tour guide indicated that it is one of the most sought after venues in the world by musicians/musical groups at which to play. You must schedule out 5-7 years to get on the calendar. Our guide has seen Manhattan Transfer and Dire Straits in this amphitheater. There is a picture of the amphitheater at the end of this blog.
We visited a Carmelite monastery at the top of Mount Carmel. It was here that the prophet Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal.
Megiddo was one of the most important cities in Biblical times as it sat in the middle of the traveled path that led to Golan Heights/Lebanon to the north and Egypt to the south. Thus, it was always a site that was constantly under siege through the years as the rulers knew of its geographical importance. As noted in yesterday's blog this is also the site that John mentions in the book of Revelations when speaking of the battle of Armageddon.
We then traveled about 20 minutes to Nazareth where we spend the next two days. Tomorrow we will attend mass at the Church of the Annunciation, where the Archangel Gabriel told Mary she would conceive and give birth to Jesus. Following mass we will head to the Cana of Galilee to the site of Christ's first miracle, the changing of water to wine. We will finish our day with visits to Gideon and Bet She'an, which is one of the world's best preserved Roman cities.
With tomorrow being Father's Day in the states our intention tomorrow will be for all of our fathers, stepfathers, godfathers and grandfathers! Happy Fathers to all who will celebrating one or more of those roles tomorrow.
God bless and enjoy your Sunday mass!
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